The Score Magazine - Archive April 2009 issue! | Page 49

Hand Craft
Excerpts from an exclusive interview with
Mr Vimalan of Calonge :
How do you perceive Calonge’s customer?
Calonge is mostly endorsed by fashion savvy
women between the ages of 28 and 40. They
can afford the price tag.
Have you had any setbacks carrying the ‘Made
in India’ label?
Yes. People think that we lack international
standard and do not take us seriously. But we
are slowly turning the tables by showing the
world our true potential. Very soon we will be
a force to reckon with.
What according to you is the success of
Calonge?
A few days ago, at a restaurant with my friend,
I spotted a lady with a Calonge bag. Within half
an hour, I saw another young woman carrying
Calonge. That evening, at a coffee shop I espied
yet another. Seeing three of my bags within 24
hours excited me. That is the real success of
Calonge.
Your vision for Calonge?
To become the Bottega Veneta of the East.
And then there was light.
The SCORE Magazine | April 2009
ing and in no doubt that they had just witnessed the coming
of age of leather in India.
The Score Magazine was given exclusive insight into the mak-
ings of Calonge. As we toured the factory of the Indian brand
which was making waves in the fashion fiefdoms of Spain,
Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we attempted to decode its phenom-
enal success.
At the factory outlet was Calonge’s trademark display of vi-
brant bags, which we were informed was the winter collec-
tion. This left us wondering about the colour palette for the
summer; could it possibly get any brighter? As we stepped
into the leather storage area with fluorescent and sheen
tempered skin welcoming us, we knew we were in for a dif-
ferent experience. From there, the leather was sent for cut-
ting into thin strips. After the edges were smoothened out
and the strips were perfected, came the most exciting phase.
Rows upon rows of women sat braiding multi-coloured strips
at lightening pace. Several techniques were used, each giving
birth to a different style. Simple zig-zag patterns and hexago-
nal plastic weaves seemed to take shape effortlessly in their
hands. Of all these techniques, interlacing looked particularly
tricky and it took up to a week to complete the more compli-
cated designs. The process of weaving was in itself as exotic
as the end product.
The bag was then moved into the finishing phase where every
inch was meticulously crafted. It was lined with silk, embel-
lished with leather tassels and sealed with zippers which were
the imported best. We were slowly beginning to understand
the quality, the success and quite clearly, the price tag. But
something was still amiss. We were unable to put our finger
on Calonge’s secret of success. The missing link presented it-
self in the form of Mr. Vimalan, the man running the show.
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